Olu Ajayi

Olu Ajayi is one of Nigeria's most versatile and verifiable artists of his generation, his vast experience as portraitist, realist, experimentalist, cartoonist and constant renewal ideas for expanding the realm of visual arts in all possible directions.

He is knowledgeable in the expression of African traditional skills and their intersection with modern aesthetics. Olu's quest for significance value in the art world, fuels his keenness to contribute in local and national development.

Ajayi has evolved from a fine illustrator and cartoonist to one of the most noteworthy artist working in Nigeria today. Drawing his influence from the famous Auchi colourist school, Ajayi' evocative landscapes, searching portraits and socio-political commentary may be viewed as the culmination of a painter's quest for empirical truth.

Olu Ajayi's metaphoric vocabulary is also deeply rooted in the body of his works, his ultimate vehicle in expressing life's dualities. His sensuous colours, sweeping strokes and narrative content place the human figure on a grand scale, while the dramatic cropping of figures and forms emphasizes the immediacy of the paint.

Ajayi has also achieved recognition for his remarkable watercolours in grey scale executed in a broad gestural technique.


Career highlights

He has managed and consulted at local and international Art platforms, his professional role and initiative have contributed to sustained development in the practice and promotion in the Art sector.

Some of the Art platforms, which Ajayi has expressed his professionalism are, 'Art and Objects Gallery, Mydrim gallery, National gallery for Art, Terra Kulture, UAC property (Golden Tulip), Lagos State black heritage festival, the Orisun festival in Ogun State, CBAAC Hall of Fame, Wole Soyinka Festival - Unisa - South Africa, Gani Oguntokun Exhibition, Nasimento - Brazil, Standard Charter bank charity Exhibition, SNA Lagos October rain exhibition, United Nations art exhibition-Geneva, Shell National art competition, Lever brothers art competition, Grillo Pavilion, Vigeo Nigeria ,and Entertainment Bus-Stop ltd.

In 2014, Olu joined other committee members to restructure course curriculum of the art department at the University of Lagos. He has honoured invitation to give lectures and talks on momentous contemporary art topics at various platforms that includes; Visual Art department - Auchi Polytechnic, Nigeria Liquefied &Natural Gas ( NLNG) - Port-Harcourt, NAS - Lagos and Abeokuta, Nigerian Turkish international college, Society of Nigerian Artist - Port-Harcourt, Fidelity bank - Business of Art

One of his most recent projects is extremely ambitious, pan-African in scope and international in dimension. It involves capturing a 'living history' - portraits and images of the African continent, under the rubric DOCUMENTING LIVING LEGENDS. For Olu Ajayi, this is a mission conceived not only for the preservation of individual images in paint, but as education in African history, a means of engaging the aesthetic formation of the young African personality, especially in these increasingly technology driven times.

The project started in year 2008, and has documented the following personalities on canvas and multimedia; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya and Oba of Benin (Omo N'Oba N'Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa), Prof. J. P Clark and General Yakubu Gowon (GCFR)

Olu Ajayi had solo and group exhibition since 1986 till date, in Lagos, London, New York, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Dubai, Stuttgart, Paris and Geneva. His artworks have been sold at the Bonham London auction house, Arthouse auction- Lagos, TerraMydrim auction-Lagos


Education

Ajayi studied at the Auchi polytechnic, Edo State, in 2010, he undertook post graduate studies at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Lagos, Nigeria


Prizes and awards

He is a founding member and Trustee of the guild of professional fine artist (GFA), board member of Visual Art Society of Nigeria (VASON) and former Chairman Society of Nigerian Artist (SNA), during his six years tenure as SNA chairman, (2001 - 2006), Olu articulated and implemented inclusive programme of reform that revitalized the association.

In 1993, Olu Ajayi was listed in Who is Who in Art in Nigeria published by the Smithsonian Institute and Libraries, listed in 2012 Artist of Nigeria and in 2010, listed in 101 Nigerian artists.

In 2004 he won the best Alumnus Merit Award of Auchi Polytechnic School of Art and Design, was made a fellow of Society of Nigerian Artist (2010), 'Patron of the art' by NANTAP, Lagos and 'Distinguished Stewardship Award' by SNA Lagos in 2008.


Source: www.oluajayi.net